And we're off for 2015!

With #MoonHitler spying on kids for John Lewis, the launch of the Pret Christmas Sandwich (6/10) and glittery MSG being liberally sprinkled over all the supermarket's offerings, I was worried that Christmas All Wrapped Up had missed the launch of the festivities.

I'll be honest, I had begun to think that maybe the line had finally come to the end of its natural life as it's been all quiet in the CAWU house. Discussing this over a post-work pint last night, my phone buzzed gently and when I looked down an image appeared that would restore my faith with the advertising fraternity.

Thank heavens for Ascot.

Not only that, but it's a double-yolker for the Royal racecourse as this is the second year in a row that they've used those four lovely words. God bless you.

I'm hoping that 2015 will be our best CAWU year ever, but I have a feeling we might have been rumbled. Hope springs eternal though...

Keep 'em peeled people.

Many thanks to CAWU stalwart, James Devon for the text. And also @MsCheeseonToast for cutting it out and leaving it on the kitchen table for me when I got home.

Probably All Wrapped Up for 2014

Has it really been 2 and half weeks since we last posted a sighting? Doesn't time fly when clients want to brief in all their jobs in one go so they can essentially wash their hands of any work over Christmas?!?!?!

However, this site isn't to gripe about such nonsense, ours is to celebrate. And so, in (probably) our last post of the year, I'll quickly sum up the final CAWU sighting.

These guys were either late to the party or it simply passed us by until now. 

Green and red, a bow tied round the product, a wrapped up URL - only spoilt by the amount of copy the client has mandated that go with it. A solid 6 out of 10 - not awful but nowhere near the ORSM-ness of this year's Post Office offering. Fingers crossed we end on a more 'fantastical' CAWU but I think we may need to close the book on 2014. 

Thanks to everyone who kept 'em peeled and sent us the sightings, we couldn't do it without you.

Merry Xmas All Wrapped Up - see you in about 11 months...

The CAWU fraternity

xoxo

The Fat Faced Family Nightmare before Christmas

Probably the best fake family scene at Christmas we've ever seen.

Firstly, who lights candles on Christmas morning?

Now take a closer look at the shot. Does it have a bit of a sinister edge to it? For us, it almost gives the impression we're looking in at this perfect family scene as if we were a balaclava-wearing intruder who's just pushed the door open quietly and is about to about to ruin Christmas morning with a crowbar.

I can see it now. 20 minutes later and the family are literally 'all wrapped up' with gaffer tape to chairs. Gagged and crying, we pick up a candle and use it to torch the house before scampering out the door with all their Fatface knitwear and pyjamas.

We've all seen the countless 'You've Been Framed' home videos of Christmas morning and know it's nothing like this. The tears of disappointment, the fake 'I love it' looks from wives to husbands - this isn't Christmas from any land we're aware of - apart from Adland.

And that's the point.

This one definitely sells the sizzle of Christmas and not the sausage. Not sure how Christmas is 'all wrapped up' in this one but we've got so 'wrapped up' in the backstory, it doesn't really matter any more - unless there's a stylish knitted garment for every Christmas item.

A slightly darker CAWU today - must be the weather, the darkness setting in at 3pm and the sodding cold I've been trying to shake for a week.

Just promise us you won't leave any windows or doors unlocked on Christmas Eve night!

All Wrapped Up Norf'

Every time I look at this all I see is a woman holding a Lightsaber.

I imagine a lot of Art Directors will be shaking their heads at the positioning of the type - and rightly so.  It does look a bit 'plonked' on and it's a not the easiest thing to read from distance. And as far as a Christmassy vibe goes, the woman's not exactly full of festive cheer or spirit. I've seen that look before from Mrs CAWU and I can tell you it's more like 'Stop leaving the f**king cupboard doors open!'

I suppose it is snowing but not sure exactly why she's in an underpass - perhaps it's to highlight the homeless at this time of year. A noble cause. I had to get 'Big Coat' out today it was so cold. So thanks 'Blacks' for bringing this to my attention. I'm going to pop a quid in a homeless person's cup this Christmas - providing there's no meths or Brew L'Special residing in the receptacle, that is.

Big love to our friend Richard Barnes in the North for taking the snap.

Merry Kitsch-mas

 

Our first complete CAWU campaign. Window displays, DM, Online - Cath has really gone to town and brought the line to life in her own stylishly twee way. Exciting times ahead for the 30-something who's looking for a £10 Christmas bauble or a decorative rolling pin for the 'Bake Off' inspired hipster (Do hipsters bake? I suppose they used to before it was trendy). 

Anyway, there's no getting away from the line but i'm just not getting Christmas from it. Yes, there are snow covered 'Dickensian' houses and the trees are laden with snow but the choice of colours give it a 'Mardi Gras in Miami' look and feel. Where's the snowman on the path? Where are the eight Reindeer and a sleigh on the roof? Surely they can't be too Kitsch for Kidston? 

Keep the line, the dial up the Christmas. If anyone has a licence to do Kitsch-mas, Cath has.

Lot's of people to thank for pointing this out. Special thanks to Sarah Wood who took time out of her holiday in freezing cold St Ives to take a shot of the window display. XXX

How do you wrap a Pony for Christmas?

ASCOT and Country Living Christmas Fair & Racing Weekend has taken the Wrapped Up part of the line literally and created an interesting scene using rolls of wrapping paper. I must say this is a new take on the line and one that we approve of here. 

Not entirely sure anyone's ever seen Horse Racing wrapping paper, but this is advertising and so it only takes a production manager and a few telephone calls, an email, a small team of designers, a favour from a printer and a courier and there you have it - A lovely roll of it.

That said, it's still a refreshing creative way of executing the CAWU line. 

Many thanks to a seasoned CAWU finder, Mark Cochrane. An Epic photo-taking stance in the reflection of the glass - one hand, side-on to the ad and leaning slightly forward. Powerful.

All Wrapped Up by the Post Office, literally

If there was a checklist for the perfect 'All Wrapped Up' ad there would be a tick in almost every box for this year's festive offering from the Post Office. The Ad geniuses have pretty much thrown the Christmas sink at this and it's glorious. An inspired piece of casting too.

Celebrities  √
Christmas Puns √
Animals in Comedy attire √
Festive Music (Bells included) √
Decorations & Trees √
Double Entendres √
Festive Fonts √
It's Snowing √
Elves & Pixies (A Punderful use of Celebrity again) √
Presents √

For the complete set, some reindeers and of course jolly Old Saint Nick featuring would've have been an added bonus, but I think we can all say that this is greatest CAWU ad of all time.

A work of true Christmas Joy!!!!

Experience the Joy > All wrapped up at the Post Office